Summer passed in comparative peace. Their lessons were getting more advanced, expanding into finer etiquette. To Katharina, these seemed mostly like a jumbled mess of illogical rules that all stemmed from some long tradition that apparently made sense to everyone but her.

  The prince tagged along with Master Ravnsund at the regular check-in, but he suddenly seemed to keep a measured distance from Katharina.

  What annoyed her the most was the fact that she had finally found out how to bloom a rose, and now any opportunity to give such a blossom to the prince had evaporated.

  Madam R?fna would bring her dreaded 'Best of News' from time to time, but for some reason Katharina always seemed to be among those who were not quite good enough for the prospect Master, which seemed unlikely in Katharina's eyes as she was now performing far better than most.

  It wasn't until Master Ravnsund's second visit that a stir made ripples through the manor.

  Apparently, fall would come with his next visit, and when fall came, so did the largest annual auction for nobility.

  Madam R?fna stood before them in the mirror hall as she explained that the Master would choose two among them to bring along.

  "It is a great honor to accompany Master and represent the manor." Her hawk eyes found Katharina, who once again felt that she was being unfairly singled out. "There is, of course, no guarantee that any of you shall be chosen, but I shall bring the master a list of those I see most suited."

  Katharina snuck a glance at Lian, who met her eyes with an exasperated expression not meant for Madam R?fna to see. Clearly, this was not something to be hoping to be picked for, but Katharina couldn't help but wonder if being taken outside the manor might be worth the effort.

  They went through the rest of the lesson, and Lian made a noticeable effort to be sloppy, which earned her the scorn and a singing slap from Madam R?fna.

  "Do not think a poor performance today will serve you in the future." Madam R?fna's words were dry and precise, clearly meant for all, not just Lian.

  Katharina, on the other hand, watched herself attempt perfection in the mirrors surrounding them, yet went practically unnoticed.

  When they finally filed out of the room, bodies sore from Madam R?fna's endless corrections, Lian couldn't seem to walk with the rest.

  Katharina only managed to see Madam R?fna looming over Lian for a split second before the door closed behind her. Sure, Lian had been a nuisance during the lesson, but this seemed excessive.

  Instead of letting the brand carry her along with the others to the mess hall, Katharina suppressed its commands and lingered by the door. She expected to hear slaps or Madam R?fna's sharp tone when she gave a scolding, but instead, all she heard through the door was muffled words exchanged.

  When Lian finally emerged from the room, her cheeks were pristine, and there lingered no more aura on them than what had healed her in the lesson.

  Yet she was pale as a corpse, and seemed to barely even register that Katharina had waited for her. She walked swayingly down the hall, appearing like the only thing that held her upright was the brand forcing her feet forward.

  Right after her followed Madam R?fna, who stopped in her stride at the sight of Katharina.

  "Katharina, you are still here." There wasn't the expected reprimand in her voice, just surprise.

  Still, Katharina bowed in apologetic courtesy just as they had been taught. "I meant only to wait for Lian, Madam."

  "Yes, you two are very close after all..." The madam stared thoughtfully after Lian while Katharina awaited her dismissal, but neither the brand nor Madam R?fna made any indication.

  "When your friend had just arrived at the manor, she was almost as unkempt as you. Supposedly, she grew up a commoner but was sold off in childhood and passed from master to master.

  Not all of those Masters were as kind as Master Ravnsund."

  Katharina wasn't sure why Madam R?fna was telling her this, but getting to know something about Lian's past was too enticing for her to question it.

  Though it did make Katharina feel a bit dirty to hear it from Madam R?fna rather than from Lian herself.

  "A son of one of those Masters will be visiting the manor soon."

  Madam R?fna's voice was hoarse with something she couldn't say, but Katharina understood the implication, and the brand dismissed her.

  Lian's eyes were as gray and lackluster as the dinner mush in complete silence. Katharina tried multiple times to get her attention, but there was no catching Lian's gaze, which was fixed on a single empty spot on the table.

  Even on their way back, and as they undressed for bed, Lian had a look of inward contemplation and a pair of sealed lips that didn't let Katharina in on any of the struggles that were tangling within Lian.

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  For the first time in many weeks, they went to bed and simply slept. No reading or fiddling with aura; just empty unconscious.

  Katharina woke not to the brand but the rustling and bustling of Lian, who was already up. She was fully clothed, her green bodice tightened without Katharina's help; she seemed as though she was almost on her way already.

  "Good-e morning?"

  The grogginess made Katharina's confused voice crack.

  "Morning." Lian was curt in her reply, though the curtness was clearly not directed at Katharina.

  In one swift motion, as she had done so often, Lian lifted the corner of her mattress and pulled the book from its hidden spot. But instead of opening it to read a page, she threw it onto her neatly made bed and turned to leave their room.

  Katharina stared in astonishment at the blatantly visible book.

  There was a second question Katharina couldn't help but ask herself. Where in the world was Lian going so early in the morning? It didn't look like she was fighting the brand, yet who would call for her now?

  Left alone, it felt like the book was staring at Katharina, beckoning her to approach.

  When she touched the book, a sharp rap on the knuckles hit her. The pain came fast and impersonal, like touching an electric fence; the brand was exercising a warning.

  Katharina was stunned, not just by the pain, but more so by the fact that Lian had picked up this book like it was nothing; flipped pages for weeks.

  She hated how Lian still never explained the details until Katharina broke down and begged. Was this the 'something bad happens' that Lian mentioned keeping the book for, and how was leaving it out in the open supposed to help?

  Katharina clenched her jaw and pushed the book underneath Lian's pillow. It was a risky move, but how was she supposed to help Lian when she didn't know the plan?

  The day went on as it always did.

  Furrow-Brows was, as expected, a pain. His thin patience wore even thinner whenever Katharina was within reach. Nothing new there.

  It wasn't until the late afternoon, when the brand guided them back through the corridors toward the mess hall, that something finally broke the pattern.

  Lian turned.

  She veered off down a side passage that led away from the mess hall, her steps steady and unhurried, as though this too were part of the routine.

  Katharina slowed instinctively, resisting the brand just enough for her to follow.

  But instead of running up or calling out to Lian, she hung back and stuck to the shadows. Without even realizing she was doing so, she retracted her aura, suppressed her existence, and became part of the tapestry.

  Lian entered an unfamiliar room, and Katharina stopped just short of the door, peering through the little crack left open.

  Beyond the door were two figures, one was obviously Lian, the other a woman who moved with fluid grace, practically dancing every gesture.

  As the woman turned, Katharina recognized her as their inattentive dance instructor.

  Katharina carefully shifted her head to get a better view of the room. There stood a plain bed pushed against the wall, and a large bookshelf dominated the room from the opposite wall. This had to be the dance instructor's personal quarters.

  Lian spoke first, her voice low enough that Katharina could not make out the words. But whatever she said, the instructor listened with a serious demeanor that shifted to reveal something akin to determination.

  She crossed the room in three long strides and knelt before the bookshelf like a subject before their ruler. From the bottom shelf, she drew out a small stack of books, their spines worn smooth from use.

  She gave Lian a pitying look before handing her three.

  Lian took them without a word. The instructor moved to stand behind Lian and carefully loosened her bodice. For a second, Katharina feared some payment for the book she did not want to witness was about to unfold.

  Thankfully, Lian proceeded to stuff the books inside her bodice with the help of their instructor, who stuffed one down her back and tied her back up.

  The instructor reached out and brushed her fingers over Lian's sleeve, just once. She held her cheek tenderly in her hand before pulling her into a brief, tight embrace.

  The hug broke. A few more words that Katharina couldn't hear were exchanged, then Lian turned to leave the room. Katharina hurried around the nearest corner; her presence was still concealed deep within, but standing in front of the door would still get her found out, and for some reason, that seemed very dangerous.

  She waited until the corridor was empty before slipping away, the image of those books and that too-quick embrace welded into her memory.

  Supper went as it always did.

  The mess hall buzzed with the low, indistinct noise of bowls scraping wood and slaves eating without appetite. The mush tasted no different than it had the night before, or the week before that.

  Katharina found herself watching Lian more than her own spoon.

  Her gaze flicked, again and again, to the line of Lian's bodice. It lay snug against her dress, smooth and unbroken. No telltale corners peeking through fabric. The books that had once been hidden there were gone now.

  Lian just ate in silence, posture immaculate, suspiciously unbothered.

  They left the hall together, their steps falling into the familiar rhythm dictated by the brand. Katharina waited for a glance, a sign, anything really.

  When they reached their room, Lian suddenly stepped ahead of her. She grabbed the doorknob with a force that turned her knuckles white and flung the door open.

  Katharina half jumped at the aggressive gesture, casting a glance over her shoulder to ensure no one had seen. When she looked back, she saw their room. Where the four books in Lian's possession lay neatly arranged atop Lian's covers. One she recognized immediately, its worn spine unmistakable. Beside it rested three others, aligned with deliberate care, as though they had been placed there to be seen.

  "Lian! Someone might see!" Katharina rushed thoughtlessly forward to close the door.

  Lian blocked her with an icy grip around her wrist. Slowly, Lian closed the door behind them.

  "Katharina, did you hide the book?" Her voice was accusatory with a hint of hurt.

  "Yes-e..." Katharina was gauging whether a little white lie might help her agenda and make the betrayal less. "I-e thought it was bad, the book on the mattress."

  Lian squinted her eyes as if determining exactly how mad she was supposed to be at Katharina before she made her next move. But Katharina wasn't about to surrender control over the conversation back to Lian.

  "Why-e do you keep sneaking books if you know it's gonna get you into something bad?"

  "Because I like reading, and because it lets me stay here longer." Lian's answer was flung like a snappy retort. "I'd much rather work the fields for a few months than be a rich noble's plaything."

  Katharina was stunned and silent. All she wanted to do was understand and help, but clearly Lian preferred to play the system on her own.

  "Perhaps you should sneak some book too, Katharina." Lian's stare was defiant. "If you want to avoid that auction."

  The next day, Lian was found to be in possession of four stolen books. Only after a long and grueling beating was she sent to slave away in the fields for three months, to reflect on her wrongdoings.

  And Katharina was left to fend for herself.